BATTLE OF LEWES

(14th May 1264)

The dispute was
between the rebel Barons, under Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and
the king's side. Simon stated he had no quarrel with the king personally, but
that he was in "bad company" with certain Barons and Earls. There had been no
war for about fifty years, so the respective armies were not seasoned soldiers.

On the king's
side (and described elsewhere), included:

King Henry III
and his son Prince Edward (later to become King Edward I).

John de Warenne, 7th
Earl of Surrey, who was married to the king's half-sister Alica.

John FitzAlan, 9th
Earl of Arundel.

Those on the Baronial
side (and described elsewhere), included:

Gilbert de Clare, 6th
Earl of Gloucester & Hertford. He commanded the centre of the Baron's army.
Gilbert took King Henry III prisoner, having
hamstrung his horse. As Prince Edward (the future King Edward I) had also
been taken, Gilbert and Montfort were now supreme.

Sir Fulk IV de Warin,
who was drowned in the River Ouse when endeavouring to escape
after the battle.

Sir Henry de Hastings,
who was one of the leaders of the Baronial army, immediately before which he was
Knighted by Simon de Montfort.

John Giffard (later
created1st Lord Giffard), who was the only notable Baronial knight to be taken
prisoner. He surrendered early in the day and was held in Lewes Castle. But
before this he had received the surrender of Sir Reginald FitzPiers and Sir Alan
de la Zouche. However both these knights were found free a few hours later, with
FitzPiers again fighting, and Zouche hiding in Lewes Priory dressed as a
monk. It was therefore suspected that Giffard's real allegiance was with his
king.

THE MISE OF
LEWES

Shortly after losing
the battle, King Henry III set his seal to the Mise of Lewes, dictated by
Simon de Montfort, which laid the basis for the first Representative Parliament
in 1265, the first House of Commons. There is a modern monument on the site of
Lewes Priory, commemorating this important event for English democracy. Around the rim on one side, depicting battle scenes, is
inscribed:

NOW ENGLISHMEN READ ABOUT THIS BATTLE FOUGHT AT LEWES' WALLS. BECAUSE OF THIS YOU ARE ALIVE AND SAFE. REJOICE THEN IN GOD